Crusade to stop ‘Satan worship’

Kohima, April 16: Christian leaders will hold a “transformation crusade” from April 24 to 30 in a bid to stop teenagers and youths from allegedly practising Satan worship.

Church leaders of Nagaland claimed that in Kohima alone, 3,000 people, who are mostly teenagers and youths, have taken up such practices.

The programme to be held at Khuochiezie ground here will see prominent Naga preachers from different churches deliver sermons and counselling youths. Christianity is practised by about 90 per cent people in the state, with the majority part of the Baptist Church, followed by Cath-olic and other denominations.

Rev. Zotuo Kiewhuo, senior pastor of Koinonia Baptist Church here, said there were more than 3,000 Satan worshippers in the capital alone and the cult was spreading like “wildfire”.

He said the cult was practised by youths in schools and colleges and added it has been going on for the past four to five years. The Baptist clergyman said youngsters have imbibed the culture through social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. “There is an identity crisis among our youths and thus being led to such practices.” Rev. Shan Kikon, senior pastor and founder of Faith Harvest Church, said he was not sure about the number of Satan worshippers here but claimed to have come across such persons recently. Kikon said such practices begin with curiosity and obsession. “I have come across even a Class VI student practising Satan worship,” Rev. Kiewhuo said. He said teenagers and youths were easily influenced by the alien culture through social websites and friends. He said several parents have come to him to rescue their children from such practices.

The organisers of the programme said that “dark forces was sweeping Kohima and there was an unseen warfare wrecking societies, institutions, families and the hopes and cultures of generations with moral corruption.”

“There is a vast void that needs to be bridged in our society today. The fear of God is shrinking, eroding, fading and decaying,” an organiser said. They said the seven-day “crusade” would pray against “dark forces” and establish God’s presence.

Apart from Rev. Kiewhuo and Rev. Kikon, the other speakers will be pastor Ketuozo Theunuo of Cross Wonder Church and Azahto Kibami, pastor of New Life Church.